The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Collections search

Prevent Forest Fires! Careless Matches Aid the Axis
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
whole: the image in a box covers the central two thirds of the whole, with a broad white border. Text in black occupies the top and bottom borders. image: the shadowy caricature of a grinning Japanese soldier holds up a lighted match, while stylised...
Keep Punching - Every Day!
(posters) Made by: Seaman (artist) 1943
WPB Poster No.39
BOWL THEM OVER - MORE PRODUCTION
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
image: three wooden bowling pins, each bearing a likeness [from left to right:] Hitler, Mussolini and a Japanese. They are being struck by a large black bowling ball, bearing the legend 'More Production' in white lettering. text: BOWL THEM OVER MORE...
OUR CARELESSNESS - THEIR SECRET WEAPON
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
image: caricatures of Hitler and a Japanese soldier leer at the viewer from the right of the composition while in the background a forest fire rages text: OUR CARELESSNESS Their Secret Weapon PREVENT FOREST FIRES
More Production
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
No description available
Every Day You Take Off Gives the Axis a Break
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
No description available
PLENTY OF SLEEP KEEPS HIM ON THE JOB
(posters) Made by: Price, H (artist) 1942
image: caricature of a large and beefy barechested factory worker in bed, wearing a big smile as he rests his head on the pillows text: PLENTY OF SLEEP keeps him on the job
HIS MASK KEEPS HIM ON THE JOB
(posters) Made by: Price, H (artist) 1942
image: caricature of a large and beefy factory worker in a T-shirt, wearing a big smile and holding the fastenings of a protective mask in front of him text: HIS MASK keeps him on the job
FUN, OFF THE JOB KEEPS HIM ON THE JOB
(posters) Made by: Price, H (artist) 1942
image: caricature of a large and beefy factory worker in T-shirt and grey trousers, facing left to right, wearing a big smile and holding a bowling ball poised in his right hand text: FUN, OFF THE JOB keeps him on the job
DENTAL CARE KEEPS HIM ON THE JOB
(posters) Made by: Price, H (artist) 1942
image: caricature of a large and beefy factory worker's head, mouth open to display teeth for dental inspection. Dentist's hands hold dental implements over his teeth text: DENTAL CARE keeps him on the job